Automatic quadding and centering device



May 5, 1936. w. R. HARRIS ET AL AUTOMATIC QUADDING AND CENTERING DEVICE Filed Dec. 26, 1954 H will/I4 1N VENTOR. 7?. H0 8 mm mam D. Rama Patented May 5, 1936 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC QUADDING AND CENTERING DEVICE William E. Harris and Harry B. Reese, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Entertype Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 26, 1934, Serial No. 759,168

14 Claims.

The invention relates to a new and useful improvement in an automatic quadding and centering device used for centering a line of type in a slug casting machine and for quadding from 5 the right to the left.

It is an object of the invention to provide a mechanism whereby the use of blank quads by the operator when centering a line may be dispensed with. 7

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism whereby hand quading may be obviated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an automatic quadding and centering device 15 which may be easily and quickly attached to and operated by slug casting machines now in use.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class whereby a considerable saving of time in quadding and centering may be effected.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this class which will be durable, economical of manufacture, and easy and simple in operation.

25 Another object of the invention is the provision of a device in which accurate centering may be automatically accomplished.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for compensating for the wear of various parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for adjusting the relative positions of the jaws to lines of various lengths.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective diagrammatical View of I the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view 45 of parts of the invention with parts removed and parts shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the releasing mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a View taken on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a view taken on line 'l-'! of Fig. 1.

In the drawing we have illustrated the invention in conjunction with certain parts of a slug casting machine of the linotype class. Secured to and projecting upwardly from the fixed base I! of the machine, is a standard 13 on which is pivoted, intermediate its ends, a lever l9. One

end of the lever l9 carries a bracket 20, on which is mounted the roller 21. In these machines there is used an elevator cam 22, and mounted on the same shaft as the elevator cam 22, is a first justification cam 23. This elevator cam 22, is known as the second elevator cam, and has formed in its periphery, the depression or valley 2-4, which is about opposite the depressions or valleys 25 and 25' and the lobe 23 formed in the justification cam 23. It will be noted that the valley or depression 24 is of greater length than the depression or valley 25. The roller 2| rides on the periphery of the first justification cam 23. Mounted on the end of lever [B is a .roller 2%, which engages the periphery of the second elevator cam 22. Engaging the end of the lever i9 is a block 21, against which engages one end of a spring 23, the other end of this spring engaging the fixed base ll, said spring acting to hold the rollers 2i and 26 against the undersides of the cams 23 and 22 respectively.

As previously stated, the invention is used on a slug casting machine, and the operation of the device is effected through parts which are now found on machines of the class referred to, namely, the second elevator cam and the first justification cam. These parts serve to actuate the mechanism so that the clamping jaws may be released for the justification action, that is, when the wedges are moved upwardly into position. In the drawing we have illustrated the right hand clamping jaw 29, and the left hand clamping jaw 35, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. These jaws are supported on a stationary part of the machine so as to slide thereon. The jaw 30 is supported'on a carrier in such a manner that it may be adju'sted relative to the carrier. This carrier comprises the bracket 3i, pivoted to which at one end is a rod 32, which slidably projects through a passage 33, formed in the jaw 30. A set screw 35, is threaded in the jaw 30, in such a position that it may be threaded into engagement with the rod 32, and serve to detachably and adjustably lock the jaw 3c, in fixed relation to the rod 32. One end or" this bracket is pivotly connected to one end of the arm 35. The other end of the arm 35 is pivoted on the stub shaft 3%, which is mounted on a stationary block 37 of the machine with which used. An eccentric reduced extension 38, is formed on the stub shaft 36, and slotted to its outer face so that the stub shaft 36 may be rotated. Swingable on this reduced extension 38, is a segment arm 3Q, carrying the segment 40, which meshes with the segment 4!, formed on the free end of the segment arm 42.

Projecting slidably through the segment arm 39, is a stud 43, which is adapted to project into the opening 44, formed in the segment arm 35.

is mounted on the segment arm 39.

This stud 43 is slideable in the housing 45, which A rod 46, projects from one end of the stud 43, and extends through the opening 47, formed in the end cap 48 of the housing 45. Projecting radially outwardly from the stud 43, is a rod 49, which rides in the elongated slot 50, formed in the housing 45. This slot 59 is provided at its opposite ends with a notch 5| or 5| By means of the rod 49, the stud 43 may be slid into the position shown in Fig. 4, and the rod 49 engaged in the notch 5| so as to resist longitudinal movement of the stud 43 out of this position. When in this position it isobvious that the segment arm 39, must, upon its rocking, effect the rocking of the arm 35.

An arm 35 similar to the arm 35, is similarly mounted on the block 31, and an eccentric extension 38' projects through the segment arm 42. A pin 52 is projected through the segment arm 42 and the arm 35, so that these arms always rock in unison with each other. The arm 35' is connected at its upper end to a link 53, which pivotly connects to one end of the rod 54, which slidably engages in the passage 55, formed in the jaw 29. A set screw 56, serves as a means for detachably and adjustably locking the rod 54 against slideable movement in the passage 55.

The members 38 and 38 are formed eccentric to afford a means for adjusting the segments 40 and 4| relatively to each other to compensate for wear.

A block 51, is attached to the segment arm 39, and to one end of the rod 58. This rod 58 projects through a collar 59, carried by the bar 60, which is secured to and projects downwardly from the lever 19. Threaded on the lower end of the rod 58, are the adjusting nuts BI and 62.

In operation, when the first justification cam 23and the second elevator cam 22, are being rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow, at times the rollers Eli and 26 will be out of engagement with the periphery of these cams. When such is the case, or, when the periphery of the cams is such as to permit, spring 28 will force the lever l9 to rock upwardly at the roller bearing end, thus moving the collar 59 downwardly to engage the nut BI and pull the rod 58 downwardly in the jaw closing direction. Specifically, upon rotation of the cams roller 26 will ride into depression 24 in cam 22 and immediately thereafter roller 2| will be opposite the usual depression 25' in cam 23 thus resulting in the aforesaid rocking of lever I9 to close the jaws. When the member 43 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, this will effect the rocking of both of the arms 35 and 35' inwardly toward each other so as to move both jaws inwardly into a clamping relation with the matrices. V

The jaws will, of course, be adjusted to the proper position, their positions of adjustment being dependent upon the length of, the lines to be cast. When the justification operation takes place as usual under control of the justification cam 23, then the roller 2| will ride out of the depression '25 which allowed the jaws to close and over a lobe 23' of the justification cam 23 and the jaw closing action due to pressure of spring 28 on the lever l9 will then be released, the collar 59 moving upwardly out of engagement with the nut 6| as the lever I9 is rocked upwardly at this end, thus relieving the spring pressure on the jaws to permit the necessary expansion of the line by the wedges for justification. After the justification, the rollers 21 and 26 will successively ride into the depressions 24 and 25, and as these cams 23 and 22 continue to rotate, the roller 26 will ride over a lobe 22' on the second elevator cam 22, and serve to release the spring pressure subsequent to the casting operation by rocking lever 19 downwardly at the roller bearing end.

It is thus seen that a device has been provided which serves to operate automatically as a centering device, and it may be easily and quickly attached to a standard type of machine in such a manner as to be operated by parts now found on the machine.

In order to use this structure as a quadding device, the stub shaft 43 would be pulled outwardly out of engagement with the opening 44, so that when the rod 58 would be pulled downwardly, the arm 35 would remain stationary and the arm 35' would move inwardly toward it. In this operation, of course, the arms 42 and 39 would move in unison with each other. The device thus becomes an automatically operated structure foreffecting quadding from the right to the left. The simplicity and compactness of the structure is believed evident from the descriptions thus given.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred construction of the invention, we do not wish to limit ourselves to the precise details of structure shown, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising: a pair of separated aligned relatively movable matrix confining jaws; a pair of swingable arms each connected at one end to one of said jaws and adapted upon swinging movement, to move its jaw relatively to the other jaw; a pair of rockable actuating arms adapted upon rocking movement, to swing the respective swingable arms; a rockable lever; means cooperating with said lever for eiTecting, upon rocking of said lever in one direction, a rocking of said actuating arms; resilient means for effecting a rocking of said lever in said direction; and means for releasing one of said swingable arms for permitting rocking movement of its respective actuating arm independently of said swingable arm.

2. A device of the class described, comprising: a pair of spaced apart aligned relatively movable matrix confining jaws; actuating means for each of said jaws, each of said jaws being movable relatively to its actuating means; and means for adjustably connecting each of said jaws to its actuating means.

3. A device of the class described, comprising: a pair of spaced apart aligned relatively movable matrix confining jaws; a pair of swingable arms each adapted upon swingable movement for moving said jaws into approach or withdrawal, depending upon the direction of swinging movement; a pair of rockable actuating arms; a segment head carried on one end of each of said arms, said segment heads meshing with each other; means for connecting one of said rockable arms to one of said swingable arms for constantly effecting a swingable movement of the swingable arm in unison with the rockable arm upon its rocking movement; releasable means for connecting the other of said rockable arms to the other of said swingable arms, said releasable means being movable into operative and inoperative position, said swingable arm, upon movement of said releasable means into operative position, swinging in unison wth its rocking actuating arm.

4. A device of the class described, comprising: a pair of spaced apart aligned relatively movable matrix confining jaws; a pair of swingable arms, each adapted upon swingable movement, for moving said jaws into approach or withdrawal, depending upon the direction of swinging movement; a pair of rockable actuating arms; a segment head carried on one end of each of said arms, said segment heads meshing with each other; means for connecting one of said rockable arms to one of said swingable arms for constantly effecting a swingable movement of the swingable arm in unison with the rockable arm upon its rocking movement; releasable means for connecting the other of said rockable arms to the other of said swingable arms, said releasable means being movable into operative and inoperative position, said swingable arm, upon movement of said releasable means into operative position, swinging in unison with its rocking arm; and cam actuating means for rocking said rockable arms.

5. A device of the class described, comprising: a pair of spaced apart aligned relatively movable matrix confining jaws; a pair of swingable arms, each connected to one of said jaws for effecting, upon swingable movement, a relative withdrawal and approach of said jaws depending upon the direction of swinging; a rockable lever; a pair of non-aligned rollers carried by said lever; a pair of non-aligned cams each engaging one of said rollers for effecting, upon rotation of the cams, an oscillation of said lever; and means cooperating with said lever for effecting a relative approach of said jaws upon oscillation of said lever in one direction.

6. In combination with a linotype machine having a second elevator cam and a first justification cam: a pair of spaced apart aligned relatively movable matrix confining jaws; means for moving said jaws relatively to each other; a rockable lever; means cooperating withsaid lever for actuating said moving means; a pair of rollers carried by one end of said lever, one of said rollers engaging the periphery of said elevator cam and the other of said rollers engaging the periphery of said justification cam, the rotation of said cam effecting the rocking of said lever in one direction, each of said cams having valleys formed therein; and resilient means for rocking said lever to operate said actuating mechanism upon the riding of said rollers into said valleys.

'7. A device of the class described, comprising a pair of relatively movable matrix confining jaws, a pair of pivoted bell crank levers each having a jaw operating arm connected to one of said jaws and operative to move the respective jaw relatively to the other jaw, said bell crank levers each having an actuating arm operative to actuate the respective jaw operating arm, intermeshing gears fixed to the respective actuating arms of the bell crank levers for causing swinging movement thereof in unison, and means connected to one of the bell crank levers for actuating them.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a pair of relatively movable matrix confining jaws, a pair of pivoted bell crank levers each having a jaw operating arm connected to one of said jaws and operative to move the respective jaw relatively to the other jaw, said bell crank levers each having an actuating arm operative to actuate the respective jaw operating arm, means for releasably connecting the jaw operating arm of one of the bell crank levers to the actuating arm thereof, and means for operating said actuating arms.

9. A device of the class described, comprising right hand and left hand relatively movable vise jaws, a pair of pivoted bell crank levers having means for swinging them, and means connecting said bell crank levers to the respective jaws, the connecting means for the right hand jaw permitting adjustment of said jaw in a direction toward and from the other jaw.

10. In a quadding and centering device for slug casting machines having a justificationcam and a pair of relatively movable vise jaws for confining a matrix line between them, members connected to said jaws for closing them against a matrix line, and actuating means for said members including said justification cam and connections between it and said jaw closing members.

11. In a quadding and centering device for slug casting machines having a second elevator cam and a pair of relatively movable vise jaws for confining a matrix line between them, members connected to said jaws for closing them against a matrix line, and actuating means for said members including said second elevator cam and connections between it and said jaw closing members.

12. In a quadding and centering device for slug casting machines having justification and second elevator cams and a pair of relatively movable vise jaws for confining a matrix line between them, members connected to said jaws for closing them against a matrix line, and actuating means for said members comprising an element common to and controlled by said justification and. second elevator cams and active upon said members to effect movement thereof to close the vise jaws.

13. In a quadding and centering device for slug casting machines having a rotary justification cam and a pair of relatively movable vise jaws for confining a matrix line between them, members connected to said jaws for closing them against a matrix line, and actuating means for said members including said justification cam and connections between it and said jaw closing members, the latter connections, under the influence of the portion of said cam for effecting justification of the line, being adapted to exert closing pressure of the jaws against the line and under the influence of another portion of said cam, to release such closing pressure while the first mentioned portion of said cam is effecting justification of the line.

14. In a quadding and centering device for slug casting machines having justification and second elevator cams and a pair of relatively movable vise jaws for confining a matrix line between them, members connected to said jaws for closing them against a matrix line, and actuating means for said members comprising a pivoted spring actuated lever controlled by said cams, said lever being connected to the jaw closing members for movement thereof only in a jaw closing direction and being operative under the influence of said cams to transmit spring pressure to the jaws and against the matrix line and to release such spring pressure from the jaws during justification of the line.

WILLIAM R. HARRIS. HARRY D. REESE. 

